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MunicipalNews
Municipal League of Seattle and King County
Vol. XLIII
A Citizens' Organization Providing Leadership in the Preservation
and Improvement of Local Government Since 1910
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1953
10c per Copy
Page 97
SHOULD WE CONSIDER ALAMEDA PLAN?
Shall we spend a few more
dollars per capita a year to
provide an institution where
several thousand persons convicted of misdemeanors, including drunkenness, can be given
a chance for rehabilitation — as
in Alameda County, Calif.?
Or, shall we take the tough line
that these folks have only themselves to thank for their dilemma,
so let them serve out their sentences in the clink.
Serve Terms in Idleness
Now, over 900 daily inmates in our
city and county jails serve their
terms in idleness in these institutions with the exception of about
800 "drunks" who are committed
yearly to the Police Alcoholic Rehabilitation Farm out Marginal Way.
By startling contrast, in Alameda,
Calif., 750 daily inmates (many times
more a year) convicted of misdemeanors, serve their sentences in the
Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center
where they have the opportunity to
salvage their lives through farm
work, vocational, elementary and
high school education, and medical
and psychiatric treatment.
Subcommittee Appraises Farm
This Alameda County institution
came to the attention of the League
Subcommittee of the Law Enforce -
League studies Santa Rita Farm where inmates have
chance for rehabilitation; Here 900 loll in jail
On the Inside
• Mayor's Annual Message
• City Utilities—Up and Down
ment Committee, which is trying to
appraise the Police Alcoholic Rehabilitation Farm, Mrs. Alice O'Leary
Ralls, chairman. This group seeks to
figure out whether or not this institution is doing a good job and if its
efforts should be expanded to include county "drunks" and possibly
all persons serving terms for misdemeanors.
Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center
The Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center, with 3,300 acres, is located 25
miles southeast of Oakland on Highway No. 50. It was a wartime navy
installation and was acquired by
Alameda County in 1946 on a dollar
a year lease with the possibility of
obtaining full possession in the future. The numerous barracks-like
navy buildings have been converted
to county use, largely by the inmates.
Sheriff H. P. Gleason of Alameda
County has been the moving spirit
in this enterprise and deserves great
credit for its success.
The county took it over in January,
1947. Here all men and women
charged with misdemeanors serve
out their sentences. Prisoners from
cities in the county and in federal
custody also are housed here. It has
a daily count of 725 to 750 while
the county jail in Oakland has only
about 100 prisoners who are awaiting trial. (King County jail has 480
daily inmates.)
$1.50 Per Day Cost Per Inmate
The annual cost of running this
farm-institution is about $650,000 a
year. The daily cost per prisoner is
$1.50 as compared with $2.40 in their
county jail. (King County jail, $1.59
per day, according to the county jailer). The low daily cost is made possible by the farm produce raised
and the $130,000 yearly received
from the cities and federal government for their prisoners.
The staff consists of 90 men and
women including 58 deputy sheriffs;
9 matrons; 16 on maintenance staff;
1 physician-psychiatrist; 2 mental
health therapists; 2 male nurses; 1
part-time dentist and 1 chaplain.
Farm Program. Over 500 acres are
under cultivation. Sufficient garden
produce is raised to provide much of
the food for this and other county
institutions. Hay and other field
crops are raised. Tomatoes and sugar
beets are traded to a cannery for
canned goods and sugar. Cattle and
hogs supply much of the meat. Some
dairying is planned to provide milk
and butter. Inmates work in all these
activities.
Other Occupations. A laundry and
bakery are also operated by inmates
under supervision. Women prisoners
make uniforms, jeans and other
clothing for this and other county
institutions.
Rehabilitation. An educational
program is in charge of the superintendent of the adjacent school
district. Elementary and high school
subjects are taught and diplomas

^^^
MunicipalNews
Municipal League of Seattle and King County
Vol. XLIII
A Citizens' Organization Providing Leadership in the Preservation
and Improvement of Local Government Since 1910
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1953
10c per Copy
Page 97
SHOULD WE CONSIDER ALAMEDA PLAN?
Shall we spend a few more
dollars per capita a year to
provide an institution where
several thousand persons convicted of misdemeanors, including drunkenness, can be given
a chance for rehabilitation — as
in Alameda County, Calif.?
Or, shall we take the tough line
that these folks have only themselves to thank for their dilemma,
so let them serve out their sentences in the clink.
Serve Terms in Idleness
Now, over 900 daily inmates in our
city and county jails serve their
terms in idleness in these institutions with the exception of about
800 "drunks" who are committed
yearly to the Police Alcoholic Rehabilitation Farm out Marginal Way.
By startling contrast, in Alameda,
Calif., 750 daily inmates (many times
more a year) convicted of misdemeanors, serve their sentences in the
Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center
where they have the opportunity to
salvage their lives through farm
work, vocational, elementary and
high school education, and medical
and psychiatric treatment.
Subcommittee Appraises Farm
This Alameda County institution
came to the attention of the League
Subcommittee of the Law Enforce -
League studies Santa Rita Farm where inmates have
chance for rehabilitation; Here 900 loll in jail
On the Inside
• Mayor's Annual Message
• City Utilities—Up and Down
ment Committee, which is trying to
appraise the Police Alcoholic Rehabilitation Farm, Mrs. Alice O'Leary
Ralls, chairman. This group seeks to
figure out whether or not this institution is doing a good job and if its
efforts should be expanded to include county "drunks" and possibly
all persons serving terms for misdemeanors.
Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center
The Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center, with 3,300 acres, is located 25
miles southeast of Oakland on Highway No. 50. It was a wartime navy
installation and was acquired by
Alameda County in 1946 on a dollar
a year lease with the possibility of
obtaining full possession in the future. The numerous barracks-like
navy buildings have been converted
to county use, largely by the inmates.
Sheriff H. P. Gleason of Alameda
County has been the moving spirit
in this enterprise and deserves great
credit for its success.
The county took it over in January,
1947. Here all men and women
charged with misdemeanors serve
out their sentences. Prisoners from
cities in the county and in federal
custody also are housed here. It has
a daily count of 725 to 750 while
the county jail in Oakland has only
about 100 prisoners who are awaiting trial. (King County jail has 480
daily inmates.)
$1.50 Per Day Cost Per Inmate
The annual cost of running this
farm-institution is about $650,000 a
year. The daily cost per prisoner is
$1.50 as compared with $2.40 in their
county jail. (King County jail, $1.59
per day, according to the county jailer). The low daily cost is made possible by the farm produce raised
and the $130,000 yearly received
from the cities and federal government for their prisoners.
The staff consists of 90 men and
women including 58 deputy sheriffs;
9 matrons; 16 on maintenance staff;
1 physician-psychiatrist; 2 mental
health therapists; 2 male nurses; 1
part-time dentist and 1 chaplain.
Farm Program. Over 500 acres are
under cultivation. Sufficient garden
produce is raised to provide much of
the food for this and other county
institutions. Hay and other field
crops are raised. Tomatoes and sugar
beets are traded to a cannery for
canned goods and sugar. Cattle and
hogs supply much of the meat. Some
dairying is planned to provide milk
and butter. Inmates work in all these
activities.
Other Occupations. A laundry and
bakery are also operated by inmates
under supervision. Women prisoners
make uniforms, jeans and other
clothing for this and other county
institutions.
Rehabilitation. An educational
program is in charge of the superintendent of the adjacent school
district. Elementary and high school
subjects are taught and diplomas